Hydrangea plant named &#39;White Robe&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘WHITE ROBE’ originated as a cutting taken from the cultivar ‘BUFFIE’. The cultivar ‘WHITE ROBE’ has white sepals at maturity and is distinguished from other similar cultivars of which the inventor is aware by the unique manner in which the inflorescence ages. As the mature sepals age and turn green they are highly resistant to burning and turning brown The new variety ‘WHITE ROBE’ further possesses the favorable characteristics of a compact growth habit and long lasting large inflorescences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.). The varietal denomination is ‘WHITE ROBE’.

[0002] The new cultivar originated as a cutting taken from the variety‘BUFFIE’. The cutting was taken on May 27, 1999. The variety ‘BUFFIE’has pigmented sepals, and is typically grown under soil conditions withpH conditions that produce pink pigmentation. The new variety was firstnoticed, because it had white sepals under soil conditions that wouldhave produced pink sepals in ‘BUFFIE’.

[0003] ‘WHITE ROBE’ is distinguished from other varieties of Hydrangeathat have white sepals of which the inventor is aware by the manner itwhich its sepals age.

[0004] The new cultivar ‘WHITE ROBE’ has been successfully asexuallyreproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery inHalf Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor over a threeyear period with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

[0005] ‘WHITE ROBE’ is distinguished from other white varieties ofHydrangea of which the inventor is aware by the manner it which itssepals age. Sepal color of ‘WHITE ROBE’ is predominately white atmaturity. Sepals start green, and turn white as they mature. Then as theflorets begin to age, the sepals turn green again. The characteristicthat distinguishes ‘WHITE ROBE’ from all other white varieties known tothe inventor is that as the mature sepals age and turn green they arehighly resistant to burning and turning brown, unlike many otherHydrangeas. This makes the flowers of the plant more attractive forlonger periods of time.

[0006] The new variety of Hydrangea as described herein is furthercharacterized by its compact growth habit, and its large, long lastinginflorescences.

[0007] Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetativecuttings were taken from the initially selected plant. Examination ofasexually reproduced, successive generations grown in at Half Moon Bay,Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor ‘WHITE ROBE’ remains firmly fixed.

[0008] Asexual reproduction of successive generations at Half Moon Baywas achieved by taking vegetative cuttings from selected plants fivetimes over three years. Each new generation retained the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘WHITE ROBE’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that showthe typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, andsepals.

[0010] The plant shown is approximately 1 years old. The plant startedout as a cutting, taken from the stem of a grown plant. Two leaves wereattached to the stem cutting. The cutting was placed in a 4″ pot withhydrangea soil that would produce blue pigmentation in Hydrangeas thathave pigmentation in their sepals. The cutting was placed under mist for3 to 4 weeks until the cutting rooted. The cutting was then moved out ofthe misting area, but left under glass. Once the cutting produced roots,the plant was fertilized approximately twice a week. The plant was keptinside under glass for 4 to 5 more weeks and then moved outside, andfertilized once a week.

[0011]FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, compactgrowth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and white sepals

[0012]FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the individual florets illustratingthe unique white sepals which, as they age, generally turn green withoutburning.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a close-up view taken from above a relatively younginflorescence of the new cultivar showing its large inflorescence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

[0014] ‘WHITE ROBE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength. The following is a detailed description of a plant that startedas a stem cutting and was grown in a 4″ pot under the prevailingdaylengths at Half Moon Bay, Calif. The color determinations were madewith The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

THE PLANT

[0015] Origin: cutting.

[0016] Parent: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BUFFIE’.

[0017] Classification:

[0018]Botanic.—Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘WHITE ROBE’.

[0019]Commercial.—Florist Hydrangea ‘WHITE ROBE’.

[0020] Form: Upright, compact shrub.

[0021] Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is large.

[0022] Stems: Lenticels are present; stems become woody as they age.

[0023] Foliage: Abundant.

[0024]Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and apex; margins areserrate.

[0025]Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the leaf andare sunken on the leaf surface.

[0026]Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 137 A(green group); under side is R.H.S. 147 D (yellow-green group).

BUDS

[0027] Form: Globose; with 4 to 5 connate petals. Buds in the verycenter of the inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds havesepals.

[0028] Aspect: Smooth.

[0029] Arrangement: Borne on branched panicles.

[0030] Color: Buds and sepals are yellow-green, and whiten as the budmatures.

INFLORESCENCE

[0031] Form: Paniculate. 100 or more individual flowers (florets) perinflorescence. Both sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne onsame panicle with the sepalous florets hiding the non-sepaolous florets,when the inflorescence reaches maturity.

[0032] Size of inflorescence: Large. Individual inflorescence size isdependent on the number of florets.

[0033] Shape: Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets areflat and overlapping one another. Sepals are persistent. Sepals elongateand greens as the inflorescence ages past maturity. Non-sepalous floretsare inconspicuous and hidden by sepalous florets.

[0034] Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

[0035] General: Sepalous florets are perfect and complete, althoughpetals, stamens and ovary generally fall off as floret approachesmaturity.

[0036] Corrola: Generally there are 5 petals with 1 petal being widerthan the other 4. In the sepalous florets the petals generally fall offbefore the inflorescence reaches maturity.

[0037] Reproductive organs:

[0038]Stamens.—8 to 10 stamens. Pollen is white. Filament is purple-blueand approximately 2 mm long. Anther is 1 mm long and is purple-blue whenyoung and begins to green as floret approaches maturity.

[0039]Stigma.—Two to three-pronged stigma. Stigma is purple-blue.

[0040]Ovary.—Green in color.

[0041] Sepalous florets:

[0042]Number of sepals.—4 or 5 sepals per floret, usually 4.

[0043]Aspect of sepals.—Smooth.

[0044]Shape of sepals.—Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges often wavywhen the floret is young.

[0045]Size of sepals.—Usually 1 dominant sepal, 2 smaller butequally-sized sepals, and 1 small sepal.

[0046]Coloration of sepals.—Predominately white at maturity. Asinflorescence ages past maturity sepals green, generally without burningor turning brown.

[0047] Fruit: Brown and dry.

[0048] Seeds: Brown.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid plant variety of the Saxifragaceae family substantially as herein shown and described. 